1 antibacterial | Definition of antibacterial

antibacterial

adjective
an路​ti路​bac路​te路​ri路​al | \ 藢an-t膿-bak-藞tir-膿-蓹l How to pronounce antibacterial (audio) , 藢an-藢t墨-\

Definition of antibacterial

: directed or effective against bacteria antibacterial soap an antibacterial drug

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Other Words from antibacterial

antibacterial noun
In an effort to develop new antifungals, scientists are boning up on previous research on antibacterials. — Ellen Licking

Examples of antibacterial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pungent, colorless liquid has antibacterial qualities and can be used as a preservative, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "Here's a Machine That Turns Carbon Dioxide Into Liquid Fuel," 4 Sep. 2019 From antibacterial properties, aiding digestion, hay fever, colds, energy and even as cure for sleeping disorders the list goes on. Erin Hill, PEOPLE.com, "James Middleton Reveals Surprise Passion for Beekeeping: 'It鈥檚 a Chance to Escape My Mind'," 23 Aug. 2019 An antibacterial and antimicrobial chemical, triclosan can be found in sanitizing hand and body soaps, mascara, and formerly in toothpaste. Olivia Fleming & Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Ultimate Guide to Clean Beauty," 12 Aug. 2019 And given that these animals wallow in bacteria-laden sediments on the ocean bottom, such antibacterial properties likely come in very handy. Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "This shark glows using a process previously unknown to science," 8 Aug. 2019 Hanging from their branches is old man鈥檚 beard, a lichen with antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Jill K. Robinson, National Geographic, "Gordon Ramsay Braves the Icy Alaska Panhandle," 17 July 2019 Is one antibacterial wipe enough to disinfect my entire mat? Jessica Toscano, SELF, "Here's How Often You Should Really Clean Your Yoga Mat," 12 Apr. 2019 The treatment starts by gently cleansing the skin with an antibacterial towelette, to clear away any impurities, followed by an application of Exfoliant鈥 Mentholated Face and Body Scrub. Rachel Marlowe, The Hollywood Reporter, "Is the Butt Facial the Must-Have Beauty Treatment of the Summer?," 16 July 2019 Beyond its antibacterial properties, the gel has salicylic acid, an exfoliant that unclogs pores and acts as an anti-inflammatory on acne-producing oil glands. Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The 5 Best Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel, According to Dermatologists," 8 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antibacterial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of antibacterial

1879, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for antibacterial

antibacterial

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of antibacterial

: able to kill bacteria

antibacterial

adjective
an路​ti路​bac路​te路​ri路​al | \ 藢ant-i-bak-藞tir-膿-蓹l How to pronounce antibacterial (audio) , 藢an-藢t墨- How to pronounce antibacterial (audio) \

Medical Definition of antibacterial

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: directed or effective against bacteria

antibacterial

noun

Medical Definition of antibacterial (Entry 2 of 2)

: an antibacterial agent

More from Merriam-Webster on antibacterial

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with antibacterial

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for antibacterial